The Odisha Assembly witnessed a heated debate on Saturday as opposition members raised serious concerns about human trafficking and child abuse.
During zero hour, Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik expressed deep worry about reports of minors trafficked from Rourkela to Rajasthan. Moreover, she alleged that girls from Sector 3 and 4 of Rourkela had been sold and subjected to exploitation.
In addition, Mallik questioned the government on existing legal measures to prevent such crimes and asked whether new rules would be introduced to strengthen protection. She also highlighted another disturbing incident in Nilagiri, where a hostel student was allegedly chained and left unattended. Furthermore, she pointed out that authorities had not taken any action against those responsible.
Consequently, Mallik demanded a statement from the Deputy Chief Minister on how the government plans to curb human trafficking, women and child exploitation, and related abuses. She urged the Speaker to issue a ruling to ensure accountability.
Acting on her demand, Speaker Surama Padhy directed Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida to present a statement in the House during the ongoing session. The ruling underscored the seriousness of the issue and emphasised the need for immediate government response.
Overall, the debate highlighted growing concern over trafficking and abuse cases in Odisha. Lawmakers stressed that stronger enforcement, awareness campaigns, and victim support systems remain essential to combat these crimes. The Assembly’s directive now places responsibility on the government to clarify its strategy and reassure citizens about steps being taken to protect vulnerable groups.
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